Gauteng Traffic Police urges vigilance ahead of Easter

The Gauteng Traffic Police urges drivers, particularly public transport operators, to save the lives of road users this Easter season weekend.

Gauteng has over the past few years reportedly recorded a rapid increase in the number of traffic crashes.

Sello Maremane, Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson, said: “The Easter holiday period is characterised by a increase in long-distance travelling, mostly for religious journeys and holiday adventures using mass transport, such as buses and minibuses.”

He said it is a common occurrence that most public transport operators travel long distances without taking periodic rests to maximise profits, disregarding fatigue.

“The rush to make profits by public transport operators, especially during the Easter season period often results in various forms of dangerous driving. Such as reckless and negligent driving, disregard to traffic signals, excessive speeding, passengers overloading and unsafe overtaking,” Maremane said.

He reiterated that these traffic contraventions often lead to fatal crashes.

“The Gauteng Traffic Police and various law enforcement agencies will lead a series of heightened law enforcement operations and road safety activations at identified freeways and hazardous locations in the province as part of the Easter Season Road Safety Programme,” he said.

The Gauteng Traffic Police has also issued a stern warning to drivers who continue to conduct themselves with impunity.

“The Gauteng Traffic Police will not hesitate to act decisively against drivers who disregard the rules and regulations of the road and endanger the lives of road users during the Easter long weekend,” he said.

Gauteng Department of Community Safety will further balance law enforcement initiatives this Easter season by deploying community patrollers at identified public transport hubs.

This is to provide help and support to the general travelling public in an effort to save lives.

The following freeways and routes are expected to be busy this Easter season.

• The N3 Johannesburg to Durban

• The N12 Johannesburg to Potchefstroom

• The N1 Pretoria to Polokwane

• The N1 Johannesburg to Bloemfontein

• The N4 Pretoria to Rustenburg

• The N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga